Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following sentences shows the correct use of quotation marks?

• A. "Grady asked Abe, 'Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?'"
• B. Grady asked Abe, 'Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?'
• C. Grady asked Abe, "Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?"
• D. Grady asked Abe, "Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?"

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct use of quotation marks is in option C. In this option, the entire quoted sentence is enclosed within double quotation marks. This is the standard convention for punctuating direct speech in English. Option A has an incorrect placement of single and double quotation marks. Option B lacks opening double quotation marks for the spoken sentence. Option D incorrectly places the closing quotation mark outside the question mark, which is not the standard punctuation rule for quoted sentences.

2. Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

• A. The wind howled, the branches swayed, and rain lashed against the windows.
• B. He packed his bags, checked the weather forecast, and then hit the road.
• C. The movie was entertaining; it was also thought-provoking.
• D. Tired and hungry, she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C uses a semicolon to correctly separate the two independent clauses 'The movie was entertaining' and 'it was also thought-provoking.' This usage of a semicolon avoids a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they all contain comma splices. In choice A, the comma splice is present between 'The wind howled' and 'the branches swayed.' In choice B, the comma splice occurs between 'He packed his bags' and 'checked the weather forecast.' Choice D has a comma splice between 'Tired and hungry' and 'she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.'

3. Which of the following structures is present in the sentence: “The tall man wearing a black raincoat, a yellow hat, and one red shoe entered the restaurant, walked to the back, and sat down alone at the smallest table farthest away from the staff and other patrons.”?

• A. Simple
• B. Complex
• C. Compound
• D. Compound-complex

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The sentence is considered a complex sentence because it consists of an independent clause ('The tall man entered the restaurant, walked to the back, and sat down alone at the smallest table farthest away from the staff and other patrons') and a dependent clause beginning with 'wearing a black raincoat, a yellow hat, and one red shoe.' The dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Choice A is incorrect because a simple sentence contains only one independent clause. Choice C is incorrect as a compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. Choice D is incorrect as a compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

4. What is the most effective way to combine the two sentences below?

• A. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
• B. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes, but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
• C. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
• D. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes, and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. This choice effectively combines the two sentences with the use of a comma before 'and' to connect the two related but independent clauses. The comma helps to separate the contrasting information about German cuisine and the Sunday dinner, maintaining a clear and coherent structure. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they either lack the necessary punctuation or use 'but' instead of 'and,' which disrupts the flow of the combined sentence and fails to convey the intended relationship between the two ideas.

5. Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

• A. The play was long; however, it was very entertaining.
• B. The guests arrived; Sarah greeted them at the door.
• C. John likes apples; Mary prefers oranges.
• D. He was tired; he went to bed early.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses related to the same event. In this sentence, 'The guests arrived' and 'Sarah greeted them at the door' are both independent clauses that are appropriately connected using a semicolon. Choice A incorrectly uses a semicolon before 'however,' which is a conjunction that should be preceded by a comma. Choice C incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are not closely related. Choice D incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses without a clear relationship or cohesion.

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